Process and apparatus for treatment of filamentary materials



SISSON D APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT W. PROCESS AN 0F FILAMENTARY MATERIALSFiled Dec.

Patented May 30, 1950 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR TREAT- MENT OFFILAMENTARY MATERIALS Wayne A. Sisson, Silverside, Del., assignor toAmerican Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware Application December 22, 1944, Serial No. 569,339

9 Claims.

natural fibers or filaments, or continuous bundles of continuousfilaments obtained by the extrusion of plastic masses through spinneretsinto coagulating medium.

In accordance with the present invention, the continuous strand offilamentary material is passed in succession through a plurality offluidtreating stages. In each treatment stage, the material is directedthrough a substantially straight passage through a tube which is supplied with the treating fiuid and confines the treating fluid to thevicinity of the path of material through the tube. The fluid ispreferably introduced in such a manner as to serve partially as aconveying means for drawing the filamentary material through thetreating device under controlled tension. Alternatively, however, thefiuid stream may be so controlled as to oppose the passage of thematerial through the treatment stage and thereby to tension the materlalin advance of a subsequent treatment or collecting stage. Among thefeatures of the invention is the controlling of the fluid-treatment insuch a manner as to remove excess liquid adhering to the strand inadvance of its entrance,

into a particular treatment stage, the utilization of a certain amountof the treatment fluid of that stage for accomplishing such excessremoval, and the segregation of the fluid discharged for the purpose ofremoving the excess from the,

Figure 3 is a view showing a modification 01' a fluid-treatment stage,

Figure 4 shows a further modification of a single treatment stage, and

Figure 5 shows still another modification of a single treatment stage.

As shown in Figure 1, the strand 2 passes in succession through aplurality of treatment stages, two being shown. Each treatment stagecomprises a relatively straight narrow long tube 3 having asubstantially uniform inside transverse cross-section between the endportions having inlet and exit openings 4 and 5 respectively either oneor both of which may be restricted (as compared to the internal diameterof the tube) and provided with apertured guides of non-abrasivematerials to permit passage of the strand. Preferably, the exit 5 has alarger size rent flow toward the exit 5. At the thread discharge end ofthe tube, there is provided a holfluid that is discharged after beingused for the main treatment in the particular stage.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide for a novelarrangement and process for the continuous spinning of artificialfilaments. Another object is to provide an improved method of dryingcontinuous filamentary material and particularly for the drying ofartificial material that has been freshly spun and wet-processed,especially that produced from viscose and cuprammonium cellulose. Otherobjects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent fromthe drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing two stages of a continuousprocessing arrangement,

Figure 2 is a section taken on line II-11 of Figure 1,

low conical sleeve 8, at least partially surrounding the tube andprovided with a connection I for the admission of air under pressure.This sleeve operates on the air ejector principle and when air or othercompressed gas is introduced into the sleeve at high velocity suction isinduced at the exit 5 of the tube, thereby facilitating lacing up thedevice when starting up operations. Normally, the valve 8 is closed sothat the ejector is not operating. Alternatively, lacing may beaccomplished by momentarily placing a vacuum hose at the exit of thetube. One or more side connections such as that shown at 9, provides forthe introduction of fluid into the tube 3, a pump HJ connected throughvalves H and 12 to the fiuid supply reservoir l3 and discharge basin Mrespectively serving to feed the fluid into the tube 3. A catch basin I5is positioned adjacent the entrance of the tube to catch any liquid thatescapes at that point.

As the strand proceeds through the processing arrangement, it mayproceed about driving wheels or godets l5 placed at intervals, such asbetween the successive fluid-treating stages. The godets may be drivenat the same speed, or

. at increasing or decreasing speeds to effect .by the strand from apreceding treatment stage.

Thisoccurs regardless of whether the particular .fluid applied in thestage under consideration is a liquid or gas. Where the particular fluidunder consideration is a liquid, it removes the excess of previouslyapplied liquid which adheres to the strand and the resulting mixture isdischarged into the catch basin l5 where it is segregated from the bodyof liquid which is discharged from .the orifice 5 of the tube into thecatch basin l4.

In many cases, the liquid discharged into the basin I5 is much morecontaminated than that discharged at M and consequently itisadvantageous to subject the liquid obtained at the basin IE to aseparate chemical purification or recoveryor process, any or all ofthese processes being termed herein as a refreshment process, beforemaking further use of the liquid thus discharged. On the other hand, theliquid discharged at M is in many cases of suflicient purity to beremixed with the treatment liquid from the supply l3 andv used in thetreatment stage. The proportion of remixing can be controlled byadjustment of the valves H and i2.

n the other hand, when the fluid in the treatment stage underconsideration is a gas, and especially heated air for accomplishingdrying, its-discharge through the orifice 4 where the strand enters thetube serves to remove excess liquid taken along from the previoustreating stage, thereby economizing on the amount of heat and drying airneeded in the drying stage.

A jacket I surrounds the tube (or a group of such tubes, if desired) andserves to control the temperature thereof, a heatin or cooling mediumbeing introduced and discharged by the parts. l8 --'and I9 respectivelyor vice versa. A suitable medium may be steam or hot water whereas acooling medium may be'cold water or a brine.

The utilization of an arrangement herein dis- "closed for dryin purposesis especially valuable because of theextremely uniform results that areobtained in arapid efficient manner. of special importance whenartificial filamentary 7 material that has-been freshly spun is to besubjected' to its-first drying. The stream of air that carries thestrand through the tube causes it to flutteror whip from side toside in.a sort of vibration wave all alongthe tube. This fluttering not onlyincreases the contact of the air with the strand but also tends to stirup the air and by working the strand'renders it pliable rather thanharsh and stiff as is frequently the result of ordinary dryingprocedures where the filaments do not have the opportunity for such freevibration. The tension on the strand may be readily adjusted by varyingthe size of the tube 3 and of openings land and by adjusting the flowofair into the tube, such as by adjusting valve 29, or by adjusting speedof successive godets It, and in this manner, the shrinkage of the strandduring drying, if it is of a nature that tends to shrink, can be readilycontrolled. The application of heat externally of the tube by means ofthe jacket I! assures that no condensation ocours on the inside wall ofthe tube 3, thereby preventin any possibility of irregularity in thedried strand resulting from the picking up of such condensed moisture bythe whipping strand.

The internal diameter of the tube 3 may vary from about A; to inch whilethe diameters of the openings 4 and 5 when restricted are preferablyabout /64 to inch.

While the fluid entrance 9 is shown passing directly through the jacketI! into the tube 3, it may have considerable length within the heatingor cooling jacket so that the fluid passing therein maybe brought toproper temperature before introduction into the tube 3. This is shown atthe .part 9a .in Figures 4 and 5 which extends longitudinally along'thetube 3.

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the fluid entrance 9 isarranged toward the discharge end of the tube 3 and the strand inlet 4is larger than the strand discharge opening 5 so that the fluid takes acountercurrent direction with respect to the strand through the tube. Inthis embodiment, the strand must be drawn through the device by suitablemeans, such as a positively driven wheel or go'det or, in the case of adrying stage, by the collecting device itself which may be an ordinarywinding or twisting machine. Such a drawing means is represented at lBa.

In Figure 4 a modification is shown in which the entrance 9 forintroducing the fluid into the tube 3 is at an intermediate point of thetube 3 in the vicinity of or at the mid-point thereof and the strandinlet and exit openings are of approximately the same size, butpreferably smaller than the tube diameter. Whereas in the arrangement ofFigure 3, the net tension imparted to the strand by the treatment offluid is in opposition to the discharge of the strand from the treatmentstage, and the net tension in Figure 1 is in favor of the discharge ofthe strand from the treatment stage, that in Figure 4 approaches zeroand, as in Figure 3, some drawing means is needed beyond the point ofdischarge of the strand from the stage. In all cases, it is contemplatedthat the strand will ultimately be taken up by a suitable collectingdevice.

Figure 5 illustrates a system for applying gases] or vapors which it maybe desirable to recover. The tube 3 arranged in the temperaturecontrolling jacket !I, the conduit 9a directing the gas or vaporinto thetube near its center, the strand inlet and exit openings 4 and 5, andthe godet 16a for positively drawing the strand through the system allcorrespond to the elements of previous embodiments. However, there areimportant diiferences in that the openings 4 and 5 are preferably asrestricted as possible to prevent escape of the gas or vapor withouttoomuch abra sion of the strand, and gas discharge connections 2!(connected to a vacuum pump 22 and a recovery system 23) areprovidedadiacent the ends of the tube 3. Where gas recovery is desiredwithoutconcurrent or countercurrent flow thereof, the arrangements ofthe unit. stages shown in Figures 1 and 3 may be modified in similarfashion 1. e., restricting the strand inlet and exit openings andproviding a vacuum side-connection at the end of the tube opposite thefluid entrance connection.

The present invention contemplates the application of the arrangementsand methods herein disclosed for the purpose of the after-treatment withliquids of freshly spun artificial fllaments, such as those obtainedfrom viscose, cuprammonium cellulose, casein, alpha-protein, vinylresins, cellulose esters, and the like. In

addition, the invention contemplates the application of the arrangementsand processes herein disclosed for the treatment with fluids of naturalproducts, such as spun yarns of natural fibers such as cotton, wool,silk as well as spun yarns of artificial fibers of staple fiber length.In the continuous processing of filamentary material, whether of naturalcharacter or of artificial freshly spun filaments, the inventioncontemplates the following of the liquid-treatment stages with a dryingstage which may be performed in any suitable manner and in the preferredembodiment by the utilization of the arrangement and process hereindescribed. In regard to the utilization of the invention for the liquidtreatment of continuous filamentary material, the invention contemplatesnot merely the chemical purification, such as washing, desulfurization,bleaching and the like but also the application of dressings, finishes,sizes, lubricants, and conditioning agents in general, for rendering theresulting strands of fibers more amenable to textile processing andfabrication. As an example of this, the invention contemplates theapplication of a solution of the conditioning agent in either aqueous ororganic or mixed solvents and the subsequent drying, that is removalfrom the strand of the solvent or solvents; While illustrative fluidtreatments have been mentioned herein, the invention is also applicableto other liquid and gas or vapor treatments.

It is to be understood that the description herein is merelyillustrative and that changes and variations may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of treating a continuous strand of filamentary material 1 h.fluid coinprisi. '7 the steps of feeding the strand through a relativelylong, narrow ge having an internal diameter of to inch extending in asubstantially straight course between strand inlet and exit openings atthe extremities thereof at least one of said openings being restrictedas it travels through the sage, introducing a treating fluidtransversely through the side of the passage intermediate theextremities and in ad ance of the mid-point thereof forcing the fluid todivide and flow alongside the strand through the passage toward bothextremities a sufficient velocity to sup ort convey the strand in thefluid as it travels thy ugh the passage, the strand being conveyed though the exclusively by the force o the fluid. and controlling the veocity of the fluid, through the strand inlet and exit one .ngs tothereby impart a predetermined tens n on the strand as it travelsthrough the assage.

2. A method of treating a continuous strand of filamentary material witha fluid comprising the steps of feeding strand in succession through aplurality of long. narrow substantially straight passages, each passagehaving restricted strand inlet and exit openings at the extremitiesthereof, introducing treating fiuids into the respective passages bydirecting the fluid for each passage transversely of the side thereofintermediate its extremities so that the fluid is forced to divide andflow through the passage toward both extremities thereof and impartsthereby a predetermined tension to the strand and increasing thevelocity of the fluid flowing through the strand inlet opening of eachpassage except the first sufficiently to remove by turbulent actionexcess liquid adhering tothe strand as it comes from the precedingtreating passage.

3. A method of treating a continuous strand of filamentary material witha fluid comprising the steps of feeding the strand in succession througha plurality of long, narrow substantially straight passages, eachpassage having restricted strand inlet and exit openings at theextremities thereof, introducing treating fluids into the respectivepassages by direotingthe fluid for each passage transversely of the sidethereof intermediate its extremities so that the fluid is forced todivide andflow through the passage toward both extremities thereof andimparts thereby a. predetermined tension to the strand and increasingthe velocity of the fluid flowing through the strand inlet opening ofeach passage except the first sufficiently to remove by turbulent actionexcess liquid adhering to the strand as it comes from the precedingtreating passage, the fiuids in a plurality of passages being liquidsand the fluid in at least one subsequent passage being heated air.

4. A method of drying a continuousstrand of filamentary materialcomprising the steps of feeding the strand through a relatively long,narrow passage having an internal diameter of to inch and extending in asubstantially straight course between restricted strand inlet and exitopenings at the extremities thereof, introducing air transverselythrough the side of the passage intermediate the extremities thereof andforcing the air to divide and flow alongside the strand through thepassage toward both extremities at a sufflcient velocity to support thestrand substantially exclusively in the air and to impart a vibratorymotion to the strand as it travels through. the passage, controlling theVelocityof the air passing through the strand inlet and exit openings totherebyimpart a predetermined tension on the strand as it travelsthrough the passage and controlling the temperature of the passage bythe external application of heat.

5. A method of drying a continuous strand of filamentary materialcomprising the steps of feeding the strand through a relatively long,narrow passage having an internal diameter of 2, to inch and extendingin a substantially straight course between restricted strand inlet andexit openings at the extremities thereof, in troducing air transverselythrough the side of the passage intermediate the extremities thereof andforcing the air to divide and flow alongside the strand through thepassage toward both extremities at a suf icient velocity to support thestrand substantially exclusively in the air and to impart a vibratorymotion to the strand as it travels through the passage, controlling thevelocity of the air passing through the strand inlet and exit openingsto thereby impart a predetermined tension on the strand as it travelsthrough the passage, controlling the temperature of the passage by theexternal application of heat, and preheating the air in advance of itsintroduction into the passage.

6. A method of drying a continuous strand of filamentary materialcomprising the steps of feeding the strand through a relatively long,narrow passage having an internal diameter of A; to inch and extendingin a substantially straight course between restricted strand inlet andexit openings at the extremities thereof, introducing air transverselythrough the side of the passage intermediate the extremities and inadvance of the midpoint thereof and forcing the air to divide and flowalongside the strand through the passage toward both extremities at asuflicient velocity to support and convey the strand substantiallyexclusively by the air and to impart a vibratory motion to the strand,controlling the velocity of the air passing through the strand inlet andexit openings to thereby impart a predetermined tension on the strand asit travels through the passage, controlling the temperature of thepassage by the external application of heat and preheating the air inadvance of its introduction into the passage.

7. A method of treating a continuous strand of filamentary material witha fluid comprising the steps of feeding the strand in succession.

through a plurality of long, narrow substantially straight passages,each passage having restricted strand inlet and exit openings at theextremities thereof, introducing a treating fluid into each of thepassages by directing the fluid transversely of the side thereofintermediate its extremities so that the fluid is forced to divide andflow through the passage toward both extremities thereof and impartsthereby a predetermined tension to the strand and increasing thevelocity of the fluid flowing through the strand inlet opening of eachpassage except the first sufliciently to remove by turbulent action anyliquid adhering to the strand as it comes to the inlet opening.

8. Apparatus for the fluid treatment of continuous strands offilamentary material comprising a long, narrow, substantially straighttube having restricted end portions having strand inlet and exitopenings at the extremities thereof, said tube having a substantiallyuniform inside transverse cross-section between the end portions, afluid introduction inlet opening in the side wall of the tube disposedintermediate the end portions thereof, means for forcing fluid under lowpressure at controlled velocity through the fluid inlet so that thefluid is directed transversely of the strand at the point ofintroduction and divides to flow toward both extremities of the tube, ajacket around the tube, means for varying the temperature in the jacketto control the temperature of the tube, and a conduit having a part ofits length extending longitudinally along the tube, said part beinglocated inside the jacket communicating at one end with the fluid inletopening of the tube and at the other end with the fluid-forcing means.

9. Apparauts as defined in claim 8 comprising suction means disposed inproximity to both the strand entrance and the strand exit openings ofthe tube for removing the main body of the fluid therefrom.

WAYNE A. SISSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,103,806 Mertz July 14, 19141,531,343 Naito Mar. 31, 1925 1,723,514 Klein Aug. 6, 1929 1,871,100Walton et a1. Aug. 9, 1932 2,090,352 Herrmann Aug. 17, 1937 2,118,261Andrews May 31, 1938 2,317,448 Dreyfus Apr. 27, 1943 2,341,615 HoffmanFeb. 15, 1944 2,360,352 Lodge Oct. 17, 1944 2,364,467 Nickerson Dec. 5,1944 2,371,579 Cole Mar. 13, 1945 2,398,856 Reel Apr. 23, 1946 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 17,736 Great Britain 1889 Certificate ofGorrection Patent No. 2,509,279 May 30, 1950 WAYNE A. SISSON It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 5, line 56, for the word passage read passing;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same nay conform to the record of the case in thePatent Otfice. Slgned and sealed this 29th day of August, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

1. A METHOD OF TREATING A CONTINUOUS STRAND OF FILEMTNARY MATERIAL WITHFLUID COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FEEDING THE STRAND THROUGH A RELATIVELYLONG, NARROW PASSAGE HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER OF 1/8 TO 1/2 INCH ANDEXTENDING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT COURSE BETWEEN STRAND INLET ANDEXIT OPENINGS AT THE EXTREMITIES THEREOF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID OPENINGSBEING RESTRICTED AS IT TRAVELS THROUGH THE PASSAGE, INTRODUCING ATREATING FLUID TRANSVERSELY THROUGH THE SIDE OF THE PASSAGE INTERMEDIATETHE EXTREMITIES AND IN ADVANCE OF THE MID-POINT THEREOF AND FORCING THEFLUID TO DIVIDE AND FLOW ALONGSIDE THE STRAND THROUGH THE PASSAGE TOWARDBOTH EXTREMITIES AT A SUFFICIENT VELOCITY TO SUPPORT AND CONVEY THESTRAND IN THE FLUID AS IT TRAVELS THROUGH THE PASSAGE, THE STRAND BEINGCONVEYED THROUGH THE PASSAGE EXCLUSIVELY BY THE FORCE OF THE FLUID, ANDCONTROLLING THE VELOCITY OF THE FLUID PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAND INLETAND EXIT OPENINGS TO THEREBY IMPART A PREDETERMINED TENSION ON THESTRAND AS IT TRAVELS THROUGH THE PASSAGE.